Eab-tag tongs



H. SPURLING.

EAR TAG TONGS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26,1919.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

W/ TIVESSES (/WE/VTOR 14 TTOR/VEY8 HARRY SPUBLING, OF TAYLQRVILLE, ILLINOIS.

EAR-TAG Tones.

Application filed April 26,

1 b all whom it mag concern.-

Be 1t known that I, HARRY SPURLING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Taylorville, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ear-Tag Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in tongs, or tag fastening tools, and more particularly to that class of tools used zfOl setting wire fasteners and the like.

The principal object of the invention'is to provide an improved device for setting tags or labels in the ears of swine and the like, the device being designed particularly for use in connection with the identification tag described in a separate application.

The invention resides particularly in providing a clamp which will hold the tag in position to engage the ear of the animal, and which will in one operation effect the piercing of the car by the prong of the tag, and the crimping of the prong about the eye of the tag, whereby to secure the tag in place on the car.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this class which will be extremely simple, durable and efficient in operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which like char acters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures, of which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the tool, showing the position of the tag ready to be attached to the ear of the animal,

Fig. 2 represents a similar view showing the position of the tag when finally attached in place and before removal of the tool,

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of the lower jaw of the tool taken transversely thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the tool includes a pair of handles 1 and 2, having oiljset jaws 3 and 4 respectively, the handle members 1 being pivoted together as at 5. Between the upper jaw 4 and the lower jaw 3, the identification tag Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. a, 1919.

1919. Seria1.N0.292,801.

or label 6 is supported. This label includes a resilient substantially U-shaped fastening member comprising upper and lower arms,

'Wliich. are adapted. to fit above and below the ear of the animal to which the tag or label is to be secured, it being understood that in securing the label in. place the U-shaped fastener is simply fitted or passed over the edge of the ear of the animal, the arms brought toward each other. whereby to pierce the ear of the animal and to effect the fastening of the armstogether, as will be hereinafter set out. The prong 7 formed at the free end-of the upper arm of the tag,

pierces the ear, and has its lower or pointed end bent around the eye 8 formed on the lower arm.

The jaws 3 and 4 are so'proportioned .as to receive the fastening device between them, as indicated in Fig. 1, when the device is in open position. The outer end of the lower jaw 3 is provided with a substantially semicylindrical seat 9 into which the eye 8 of the fastener is fitted. The extremity of the upper jaw 41- is provided with a seat having a slot or lJ-shaped recess 10 into which the bent portion 11 of the upper arm of the fastener, that is, that portion connecting the prong 7 with the arm, is fitted. The seat 9 and recess 11 holds the fastener in position between the jaws of the tool which may be manipulated by one hand in such manner as to engage the fastener over the edge of the ear of the animal. The handles 1 and 2 may then be brought together. This operation will move the arms of the fastening device toward each other, piercing the ear of the animal, and projecting the point 12 of the prong through the eye 8 of the arm.

In order to effect the crimping of the prong about the eye, a substantially U- shaped guide slot 13 is provided in the seat 8, and extends from a point concentric with the seat, to a point beyond the periphery of the eye. This guide slot is arranged at an angle with respect to the lower arm of the fastener, rather than axially with respect to the arm whereby the crimped end of the prong 7 will not engage the eyeat the meeting ends of the latter.

The handles 1 and 2 are provided with stops 1% to limit the inward movement of the jaws, so that there will be no danger of the arms of the fastener being brought so close together as to clamp the ear of the animal between them.

In operation, the tag or label is inserted in the aws of the tool in the osition indi cated in Fig. 1. The operator iolds the ear of the animal in one hand, and with the other passes the jaws over the edge of the ear, and then brings the handles together. 7

This operation effects the piercing of the ear and will effect the crimping of the point over the eye. The tool may then be removed and another tag inserted for identifying another animal.

The use of such a tool as I provide makes it extremely simple for one man to secure the identification tag in place, thus doing away with unnecessary labor. With most of the identification tags in common use, it requires the service of at least three men to eifectively secure the tags in place.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of the invention,'I may desire to make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts thereof'as do not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of-the appended claim.

I claim Ear tag tongs comprising a pair of members pivoted in crossed relation and terminating at one end in handles and at the'other Copies oi this patent may be obtained for end in jaws, thickened portions formed on the confronting faces of the jaws at the free ends thereof and projecting beyond the inner faces of the jaws toward each other, one thickened portion being provided with a slot adapted to receive one end of a substantially V-shap'ed wire ear tag disposed between the jaws, one end of the tag being formed with a loop and the other end having formed thereon a right angularly extending prong adapted to be passed through an animals ear and through said loop, the junction of said prong with the body of the. tag being engageable Within said slot,th'e other thickened portion beingprovided with a recess conformingly receiving said 100p andibeing provided with a substantially semici'rcular slot extending from the center'of'said recess and adapted to receiveand bend said prong subsequent to its passage "through said; loop when saidjaws are brought together, said thickened portions being engageable w th each other whereby ;to form a stop for preventing pinching of an animals ear.

, HARRY sPU'RLING. itnesses to signature of Harry Spurling:

J A ms H. FonREsTER, LUTHER CHEsNUT.

fi've cnts each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 7 Washington, D 0." V 

